Local News

Drug Charges Filed Against Two Centralia Men

By Bruce Kropp, WJBD News

Two men face drug charges after Centralia Police went to an apartment on Thursday looking for one of them concerning registration as a sex offender.

23-year-old Curtis Moghadam of North Beech in Centralia was formally charged in Marion County Court on Friday with unlawful delivery of meth manufacturing materials. Moghadam is accused of delivering lithium batteries, a meth precursor, to the other man, 24-year-old Marcus Hicks of East Third.

Police say Hicks initially ran on foot from the apartment, but was later taken into custody by police. Hicks is charged with possession of under five grams of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and resisting a peace officer in connection with the initial incident. A second count of unlawful possession of meth manufacturing materials was filed after a backpack with coffee filters, ammonia nitrate, lithium batteries and plastic tubing was found left behind in the apartment.

State's Attorney Matt Wilzbach says Moghadam provided the information that led to the second count because he feared there may have been a working meth lab in the back pack that would eventually blow up if not attended.

Judge Robin Todd found probable cause to hold both men. He set bond for Hicks at $100,000. Bond for Moghadam was set at $15,000. Moghadam allegedly used profanities towards the judge and court after the bond was set and received 30 days in jail for direct contempt of court. Both men had the public defender appointed to represent them and are due back in court onAugust 19th for a preliminary hearing.

Wilzbach says other charges could follow, including for the alleged involvement of the two men in a shake and bake meth lab found in a vehicle after it ran into a ditch near the Wamac City Park last week. Both men are accused of running from the scene as they arrived. Hicks is also a suspect in retail thefts at both the Salem and Centralia Wal-mart stores.